Tuesday, July 11, 2017

An angry teen, a desperate mother, a
missing father, and a shadow lurking in the background.

Things were going from bad to worse for Nick and his family. Tempted to run
away after yet another argument with his mom, Nick receives a handwritten,
leather-bound copy of an old book—a family legend passed down to him from his
great grandfather. The book, called Dragon
Seed, leads Nick deep into his family’s history and introduces him
to another angry young man who lived in the shadows (the shadows of the tombs).
Like Nick, you’ll be shocked to discover where he fits in this story of epic
proportions!

This page-turning, young adult fiction story invites older children and teens
into the real-life struggles of Nick. But it also ushers them into an
imaginative exploration of the life of the young man Jesus saved as he wandered
through the tombs. Best-selling author Marty Machowski uses both stories to
introduce the reality of spiritual warfare and how its shadows affect and
change us.

Machowski, a trusted teacher for children of all ages, presents a thoroughly
biblical view of spiritual warfare that emphasizes the importance of humility
and dangers of pride. Teens will be drawn to the story of Nick and his
struggles and will learn, as they read, to also identify the shadows in their
own life and turn from them. While the biblical teaching is evident throughout
the narrative of Dragon Seed,
Machowski also includes a twelve-lesson Bible study at the end of the book to
help teens ground their understanding of spiritual warfare on biblical
principles.

Youth pastors, leaders, and parents will also want to explore with teens the
small group study at the end of the book with its unique take on spiritual
warfare that emphasizes the biblical theme of humility. This is a perfect book
to read with a group and discuss together the implications of Nick’s struggles
for their lives.

Marty Machowski is the Family Life Pastor at
Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on
the pastoral staff for over 25 years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the
children's ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is the author of a systematic
theology for children entitled "The Ology," "Long Story
Short," "Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God,"
"The Gospel Story Sunday School Curriculum" and the companion
"Gospel Story Children's Bible." He and his wife, Lois, and their six
children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania area.

Margie’s Comments:

While Dragon Seed by Marty Machowski was written for older children and
teens, I loved this book and found it difficult to put down! What a unique way
to get a good look at Jesus and who He is and what He did while He was on the
earth in man’s form!

Nick is a teen who is
struggling against his mother’s good intentions and desires for him. When he fights
her decision, she hands him the book and asks him to read it while he is
isolated in his room. With nothing else to do, he reads the book. And he, too,
finds it difficult to put down. There’s a surprise for him in the reading, but
at the end he is ready to listen to the Lord as Lord of his life.

The author finished the book
with a twelve-day devotional. These are based on Scripture and on
the principles of spiritual warfare

brought out in the story. It’s a good reinforcement to children
and teens to see where in Scripture these principles are upheld.

If anyone has a teenager at
home (maybe more than one) they are struggling with spiritually, I highly
recommend this book for your teen(s) to read. Read it yourself, then have your
teen read it. Sooner or later it will lead to some great discussions because of
the content.

(I was sent an ebook free
from the publisher and the publicity group in exchange for an honest review.)